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It’s tough to get interviews these days, and a lot of people let great jobs slip through their fingers because they’re not prepared. I’ve coached a lot of people in job interview preparation so that doesn’t happen to them. Call 847-673-0339.

Your Next Job Interview:

Great Opportunity or Big Disappointment?

This is the toughest employment climate we've seen in decades of career work. Obviously, companies are hurting. Unemployment rates are through the roof. A lot of individuals are struggling. In good times, people can be sloppy and still get hired. These days, you’ve got to be at your best.

Are You Ready to Interview?

To be ready to interview, you should know how to:

• Bond with the interviewer
• Powerfully articulate your strengths
• Stand out from the crowd
• Nail the tough questions
• Turn questions like “What are your weaknesses?” into a chance to brag about yourself
• Keep salary questions from knocking you out of contention
• Protect your weak spots
• Keep from unnecessarily divulging unflattering information
• Negotiate better offers

I was so nervous because this interview was an opportunity to get into the field where I’d always wanted to work. You calmed me down and helped me to be poised and prepared. I especially appreciate your help with the question that terrified me—you showed me that all I had to do was tell the truth. I did, and it wasn’t a big deal. Many thanks. I didn’t have to settle for less than I wanted.

-- Marina S.

VIDEO 1

In the video below Steve gives you valuable advice on how to handle that tough leadoff Job Interview Question: "Tell Me About Yourself..."

The best candidate for a job is not always the person hired. Often, it’s the one who interviews the best. I recently heard about an exception to this. The owner of a small company recently told me about a star employee he’d hired. She was one of his best hires ever, but she was downright awful in the job interview.

I was curious, and asked, “If she interviewed so poorly, why did you hire her?”

He told me that someone in the company had worked with her in the past, and said she is a gem. Great employee or not, this woman was mighty lucky to land that job after flunking the interview.

Tired of Getting Rejection Letters?

If you don’t want to rely on luck and you’re tired of getting those rejection letters, we should talk.

VIDEO 2

In the video below Steve gives you valuable advice on how to handle Tough Interview Question #2: "What are Your Weaknesses?"

Employers Say Many Applicants Aren't Prepared

Employers say a lot of people go into job interviews extremely unprepared. I think it’s usually because they just don't know how.

Articulating Skills and Value

A lot of us have been so busy doing great work that we haven’t asked ourselves WHAT we do well, and HOW we produce value.

Being Humble

Many of us have been trained to be humble. Maybe your parents told you never to brag. The corporate culture may have demanded always speaking about "we," rather than “I.” Almost ALL of us have a tough time tooting our own horn. Preparing well for job interviews is uncomfortable territory.

This was a great investment of time and money! You provided a very useful framework for me to prepare, and lots of good insights into how I could put my best foot forward. I work in a very complex area of engineering, but with your coaching I was able to describe what I do in a way that the people in Human Resources actually understood what I was talking about (so did my wife!). I was skeptical about your advice on salary questions, but it actually worked! I didn't get screened out over money.

-- Dale T.

Interview Questions are in Code

To make things even more difficult, the questions that you're asked are often not straightforward questions. The employer doesn't really want you to answer the question he/she asked. Job interview questions are often spoken in code.

For example, consider this question:
“Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?"

It sounds like the boss wants you to start talking at length about:

1. The great companies you’ve worked for;
2. How you are a fabulous, results-oriented, bottom-line kind of guy/gal;
3. The impressive schools you attended; and
4. The way you spend your free time with your lovely family

Wrong!

VIDEO 3

In the video below Steve gives you valuable advice on how to handle Tough Interview Question #3: "What are Your Weaknesses?"

Cracking the Code

To be successful, you need to crack the code and know:

1. What does the boss really want?
2. What is the boss really asking you?
3. How can you best communicate your value

After blowing no less than ten job interviews over a period of months, I decided to invest in some help. I'm so glad I did. I've never felt so well prepared for an interview. I was relaxed and established an easy rapport with the COO. Not only did I do well on this interview, but I actually found it enjoyable.

-- Michael Henderson

Job interviews consist of four basic questions and one statement. Each one of these has to be nailed in a job interview. Each has a different strategy to answer it. Winging it doesn't work! Here are the keys to answering these questions:

1. Tell Me About Yourself

Read: "How can you contribute here?"

Strategy: Prepare specific one-minute illustrations of your problem-solving and moneymaking abilities with quantifiable results. Remember, people won't be impressed just because you've had responsibility. The Boss in the Dilbert comic strip has loads of responsibilities and he's an idiot! Show how you made a difference.

2. Why do You Want to Work Here?

Read: Are you going to work out - or will I have to re-hire in a few short months?

This includes all questions concerning your knowledge of the company as well as your long-term career goals. Make sure you know enough about the company to make a credible assertion that you'd rather work there than for one of their competitors. Ask enough questions of the employer to ensure that the job, management style, culture, and other factors are a good match for you and your career goals.

I'd been with the same company for over 15 years, and expected to retire from there. When the layoffs came, I was in shock. I spent a few months licking my wounds and relaxing, but the thought of interviewing was terrifying. I haven’t had to think about who I am, what makes me good at what I do, or even what the heck it is that I do. You really made this easy. Not that I didn't work hard at it, but you helped me focus my efforts and took the struggle and the agony out of it. Thank you.

-- Mary Matthews

3. All "Sensitive" Questions

Read: Are you a toad? Will I regret hiring you?

This category includes the most feared questions:

• "Why were you fired?"
• "Why are you job hopping?"
• "I see here you've spent time in prison."

Know and rehearse brief answers to any sensitive questions. Use positive information about your past and turn previous mistakes into lessons and defects into virtues. Key: Ask a question to artfully re-focus the interviewer on how you can contribute and the attention on ensuring the job is a good fit for both of you.

4. Salary

Don’t get screened out over money, and STOP getting paid less than you’re worth. Usually, but not always, the best strategy is to avoid any conversation around money until after you have an offer, and let the employer be the first one to mention a dollar figure.

Then, you need to ask for what you want. A recent study suggests that while it is true that women are paid less than men for doing the same work, the problem isn’t always with the employer. This study found that many times, men and women were made similar offers, but the men asked for more. The women didn’t.

5. "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You."

Don’t put yourself in the position of having to wait for the employer to call you. Use a structured follow-up to make sure you can be in touch with the boss after the interview, without being a pest.

Let's Transform Your Job Interview Performance

CALL: 847 673 0339

or email Steve at CareersInc@aol.com

• Tired of feeling inarticulate when you try to describe your experience?
• Does high anxiety sabotage you?
• Have you been settling, instead of landing the job you really want?

There is a better way!